Tien Chi or Machaka?

[magnate]

There are still five races I've never played (I've played the others only once each, and only base themes, but never mind) - Ermor, Pangaea, Atlantis, Tien Chi and Machaka. For my next MP game it looks like one of the last two. Ermor and Pangaea were in our previous game (boooring) and it's only a 4-player game so Atlantis is probably out (they either gang up on me and kill me or they don't and I win).

So, anyway, I'm thinking of E9N9 Machaka with those funky spider dudes getting massive prot & berserk ... but that's been done before and maybe isn't so good? And besides, how do you get enough money when they cost 125gp each (this is an unmodded game)?

I'd love some cool blessings for the sacred statue guys in Tien Chi - maybe W9F9 or something?

We're thinking of using the Chandrea map, with default settings for research, magic sites etc.

Which race (of these two) would you play, and with what pretender?

CC